Two men arrested in West Cork drug investigation remanded in custody

Juan Antonio Gallardo was assisted by a Spanish translator. Picture: Larry Cummins

Two men who were among 10 arrested in West Cork on March 14 in connection with a major drug investigation were remanded in custody in the district court to await instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The two men, Juan Antonio Gallardo, 55, of 12 Turina Street, Cadiz, Spain, and Aleksander Milic, 26, of Svetorgorska 15, Flat 5, Belgrade, Serbia, both appeared by video link from Cork Prison at Mallow District Court. A Serbian translator was present to assist Mr Milic and a Spanish translator was in court to assist Mr Gallardo.

Court presenter Sgt Majella O’Sullivan said it was the State’s intention to apply for a four-week extension to the period of custody with the men’s consent. The maximum permitted extension to custody without their consent is two weeks.

Aleksander Milic agreed to a further four-week extension to the custody period. Picture: Larry Cummins

Solicitor David O’Meara represented both the accused and advised both men to agree to the four-week extension. He said that the book of evidence was being prepared and it was understandable in the circumstances that this would take a number of weeks.

Both men agreed to a further four-week extension to the custody period and Judge Colm Roberts remanded both men in custody to appear in court again by video link on April 23 for instructions from the DPP.

The two men are charged with conspiracy with others to import controlled drugs in excess of €13,000 between February 27 and March 14 into the State.

They were arrested in West Cork when gardaí stopped a truck and an SUV at Tragumna Pier and a camper van in the village of Leap as part of an ongoing operation.